Xihoumen Bridge
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The Xihoumen Bridge is a suspension bridge planned for the Zhoushan Archipelago, the largest offshore island group in China. When completed, the bridge will be one of the largest suspension bridges in the world.
The 5.3 kilometer long suspension bridge will have a 2.6 kilometer long main bridge with a central span of 1,650 meters. The approaches will total 2.7 kilometers. As of 2005 there is only one bridge with a larger span, the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in Japan. There are several other bridges planned or under construction that will also be larger.
The bridge will be built by the province of Zhejiang, at a cost of 2.48 billion yuan (approximately 300 million US dollars). Construction is scheduled to begin in 2005 and be completed in 2008.
The Xihoumen Bridge will link Jintang and Cezi islands. Another planned bridge, the 27 kilometers long Jintang Bridge, will link Jintang Island and Zhenhai of Ningbo. The two bridges are the second phase of a huge project started in 1999, to link the Zhoushan Archipelago with the mainland with five bridges. Construction of the other three bridges has been completed.